Theory of chromatography

The distribution of a solute between the mobile and stationary phases in chromatography is described by κ, the partition coefficient, defined by:

where Cs is the concentration of solute in the stationary phase and Cm is the concentration of the solute in the mobile phase. The mobile phase serves to carry the sample molecules through the chromatographic column. During the sample molecules transportation through the column, each analyte is retained according to that compound's characteristic affinity for the stationary phase. The time that passes between the sample injection and peak maximum is called the retention time. The area underneath each peak is proportional to the amount of co responding analyte in solution.